North Carolina law protects disabled adults of any age from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The law states that "any person having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in need of protective services shall report such information." Definitions are:

Abuse – willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services necessary to maintain mental and physical health.

Neglect – a disabled adult who is either living alone and not able to provide for himself the services necessary to maintain his mental or physical health or is not receiving services from his caretaker.

Exploitation – illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage.